Album

"Comedown Machine" will release March 26. If that doesn't mean anything to you, consider this: It'll be the fifth record from The Strokes. The name of the album and an image of its cover were discovered serendipitously yesterday by a Reddit user. The user was working with the band's website code, and after some time, he found the code of the album cover, making the refreshingly simple cover art visible. The Strokes may have wanted to keep details of the album cover a secret, but they did release the first track on Soundcloud.

'Me. I am Mariah ... The Elusive Chanteuse” Mariah Carey 2 out of 4 In many ways, Mariah Carey - who's either deeply troubled, absolutely bat[bleep] crazy or both - was Britney Spears before Britney Spears. Both were young artists kept on a tight leash who skyrocketed to astronomical fame, then cracked and got real weird for a few years until the inevitable comeback. The difference is that Mariah legitimately has a phenomenal voice. But instead of letting her powerful pipes stand as the centerpiece on the atrociously titled “Me.

*1/2 (out of 4) The Internet outrage machine, as well as publications like the New York Post and the Atlantic that are feverishly debating whether Lily Allen's unjustly taking shots at pop icons, seems to have forgotten that the British singer's trademark was always stirring [bleep] up. It's not entirely surprising that Allen titled her first album in five years "Sheezus," which is no more or less attention-seeking than titling an album "Yeezus. " That doesn't mean she can't or shouldn't be criticized; Allen deserved the negative reaction to her video for "Hard Out Here," in which she made a bad...

Album review “G I R L” Pharrell Williams 3 stars Holy cow, do I ever want Pharrell to collaborate with Janelle Monae! His just-released album, the funktaculicious “G I R L,” had me doing a mental shuffle-step-spin so hard, I felt like I was back in her 2013 album “The Electric Lady.” Actually, now I'm daydreaming about a mashup between his “Gust of Wind” (“With your love I can board the skies/Running away that electrifies/Mothership Other, can I stow away?

Album review: Rick Ross, “Mastermind” **1/2 (out of 4) By now, Rick Ross fans know that enjoying the flashy rapper means focusing on the details of his stories, not wondering if his larger-than-life boasts about making huge gains in the drug game come from actual life experience. He spent years denying accusations that he spent time as a South Florida correctional officer, eventually and quietly confirming those reports without providing any evidence that his recorded material is anything but an...

Chicago's classically trained hip-hop/blues-rock band Kids These Days released their very solid debut album, "Traphouse Rock," a few weeks back. Demonstrating some of their holiday generosity, they have made the album available for free download. Kids These days is a group of seven young musicians from the city whose music sounds impossible to pigeonhole by genre, but not too pretentious to be accessible. The group is known for their epic live performances, which begin to carry their feel to the studio on the debut.

**** (out of 4) Danny Brown, by all accounts, is a very smart man. After the runaway success of his go-for-broke 2011 free album “XXX,” he quickly joined the ranks of rap's hottest new acts and became a festival mainstay. On this, his first “official release,” he completely throws caution to the wind and delivers one of the more entertaining projects in recent memory. See, the man made a concept project that deviates from the boring-ass “this is all related to one thing” concept-record narrative.

Another surprise album? Thanks Angel Haze! Angel Haze was set to release her album Dirty Gold months from now, but unexpectedly dropped it Wednesday on Sound Cloud. Give it a listen here: Want more? Discuss this article and others on RedEye's Facebook page .

"Music Box. " "Butterfly. " "Rainbow. " "Glitter. " "Charmbracelet. " Things found in a tween's room, or Mariah Carey album titles? Um, both! Back in the '90s/early '00s, Miss M was definitely shooting for a more, shall we say, innocent crowd. Then something happened. On Thursday, Mariah announced the release date and title for her 14th album. On May 27, "Me. I Am Mariah ... The Elusive Chanteuse" will be unleashed on the world, thr.com reports. In the pantheon of insane Mariah album titles, this one takes the cake.

"Music Box. " "Butterfly. " "Rainbow. " "Glitter. " "Charmbracelet. " Things found in a tween's room, or Mariah Carey album titles? Um, both! Back in the '90s/early '00s, Miss M was definitely shooting for a more, shall we say, innocent crowd. Then something happened. On Thursday, Mariah announced the release date and title for her 14th album. On May 27, "Me. I Am Mariah ... The Elusive Chanteuse" will be unleashed on the world, thr.com reports. In the pantheon of insane Mariah album titles, this one takes the cake.

*** (out of four) Note: This review is not an assessment of Iggy Azalea as a "serious" artist. It is not a commentary on whether Azalea, nÈe 23-year-old Amethyst Amelia Kelly, has any right to drop rhymes in the manner of a Southern rapper when she actually hails from Australia. No, this is about that other aspect of music: fun. Listening to Iggy Azalea is really fun. The kind of fun that makes me do duck lips and a sassy neck thing when I listen to her at my desk. Did you see the video for "Fancy"?

**1/2 (out of 4) While Chuck Inglish has gained fame as half of Chicago hip-hop duo The Cool Kids, the Detroit-native rapper (born Evan Ingersoll) hasn't been properly recognized for his ability to create quality tracks. I worry that he may not achieve the rap superstardom he deserves as a beat maker (he's crafted tracks for Rick Ross, Kid Cudi, Mac Miller and more) and will join the list of consistently awesome, under-recognized producers that includes Daz Dillinger (Snoop Dogg, Tupac)

**** (of 4) Jamila Woods is a wonderful singer. Her sweet-sounding voice can soothe you even when she's chiding a man for falling for the wrong girl on "Jimi Savannah. " The track is one of many highlights on "Almost Us," the follow-up to M&O's under-appreciated 2012 album, "The Joy," when the Chicago-native group was known as Milo & Otis. Bassist/producer Owen Hill's subtle approach leads to warm, fuzzy results like "Hollow," while "House" manages to be both funky and sparse, a feat I didn't think was possible.

***1/2 (out of four) How strange for a band called Manchester Orchestra to lose its way by sounding too orchestral. On 2011's “Simple Math,” the follow-up to 2009's breakout “Mean Everything to Nothing,” the Atlanta band embraced strings, horns and even a children's choir to soften its sound. It's a decent album that also got away from what busted the group into so many ears: buzzsaw guitars and singer Andy Hull's commanding wail. On the new “Cope,” Manchester Orchestra ditches the smooth peanut butter and goes all...

*** (out of 4) When "Pumped Up Kicks" vaulted Foster the People to rock stardom in summer 2011, it was an odd record to take off in such extreme fashion. Not only was it a mellow, easy-listening tune in a time of dance-driven power-pop, but tucked beneath its quaintness was a serious tale of a school shooting--a grim underpinning on a seemingly light, lovely song. While listening to "Supermodel," Foster the People's overdue follow-up to the California band's debut, "Torches," it's difficult not to think of the formula behind "Kicks.

Being Beyonce must be the best. You're married to one of the best rappers ever, you have a cute kid, you're directly responsible for "Get Me Bodied. " Now, she can add "can drop a new album anytime I damn well please" to her repertoire. That's right, Mrs. Carter just released an unexpected self-titled album exclusively on iTunes. Consisting of 14 tracks (with a video for EVERY song, plus three bonus clips. Seriously.) Guests include Jay-Z, Drake, Pharrell, the remaining members of Destiny's Child, Frank Ocean and none other than DA GAWD Blue Ivy Carter herself.

"Voices" Phantogram 3.5 out of 4 stars If you're the kind of person who never wakes up on the wrong side of the bed, Phantogram's new album "Voices" probably is not your record. If you're often confused about which side of the bed is the right one, however, this New York duo (who, in my imagination, roomed with Swedish pop goddess Robyn in an underground goth sorority) may have created your new soundtrack. Throughout the album, singer/guitarist Josh Carter and...

Last week RedEye premiered "Read My Mind," one of my favorite tracks from "Television Fuzz," the debut full-length from former RedEye Rock 'n' Vote winners the 92s. Now, the full album is finally here. Below you can download the whole thing for free (or a price of your choosing) or purchase a physical copy. No matter what you pick, you'll hear a satisfyingly hooky pop-rock record, jangly and fuzzy enough to energize you out of this ridiculous weather and start thinking about what you'll be blasting out your windows if it ever gets warmer.

Album review “G I R L” Pharrell Williams 3 stars Holy cow, do I ever want Pharrell to collaborate with Janelle Monae! His just-released album, the funktaculicious “G I R L,” had me doing a mental shuffle-step-spin so hard, I felt like I was back in her 2013 album “The Electric Lady.” Actually, now I'm daydreaming about a mashup between his “Gust of Wind” (“With your love I can board the skies/Running away that electrifies/Mothership Other, can I stow away?